Under the Sea

I was going through some old pictures and came across Caroline's fifth birthday pictures.

She wanted an "under the sea" theme.
This cake was super easy to make (the "sand" was brown sugar)and I loved how it turned out.

Here are the stairs leading down to "the ocean" . . .

. . . and here is "the ocean".

I taped white Christmas lights all over the walls of the basement, then I covered them with blue plastic tablecloths (they came in a huge roll from the party supply store.)  The kids made fish to hang up everywhere.
I also hung streamers and balloons all over the ceiling to make the girls feel like they were under water.

(I obviously had way more time and energy then!!)

We played a few games.  The favorite was the "fishing booth" . . . Jake was hiding behind it and when the girl's line would come down, he would attach a prize (stuffed ocean animal) on it.

I think Caroline had fun. :)

I can't believe how much she has grown since these pictures . . .she is 8 now . . . time sure does fly.

I can't wait to start planning her ninth birthday party.

What will the theme be????

A *Magical* Celebration

Well, I am 40 now.

Look where I got to celebrate!

Is this not the most magical place ever???

Stay tuned for LOTS more pictures, my friends.

Someone's Turning the Big 4-0

You'll have to excuse me for the next few days . . . I will be busy blowing out all my candles.
:)

Can it Be??

Can it be eleven years since I went to the hospital at 6 in the morning to deliver my first baby??

Could it have possibly been that long??

Eleven years???

Really??

Jake is such a blessing to me.
He is honest,
full of integrity,
loyal to his friends/family,
dedicated to his schoolwork and his sports,
friendly to the friendless,
compassionate to those who are less fortunate,
sympathetic with the broken hearted,
and, most importantly, deeply in love with his Savior.

I am truly so proud to be his mother and I do not take any credit for how amazing he is.

God has a purpose for this young man and I am so privileged to be a part of his life.Happy Eleventh Birthday to my sweet, sweet Jake.

"For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Ps. 139:13-14

A Favorite Book and a Birthday

Caroline discovered a book she LOVES at the library. 
It is called Actual Size by Steve Jenkins.  As the title describes, all of the pictures of the animals in the book are actual size.  They show some parts of animals, like their nose or hand.  Some show the entire animal, like this giant frog (or toad?) in this picture below.  Caroline kept trying to pretend that she was coming in the house with this frog (or toad?) and asking me if she could keep it in our bathtub.  She got a kick out of the thought of that.

She kept asking Luke if he wanted her to read him the book.  She was happy that he was so eager to listen.  It really is quite interesting!

Tonight, we celebrated my husband's birthday.  His mom came in from Michigan and cutie Caleb joined in on the fun. We made him a brownie cake with lots of sprinkles (sorry, no pictures).  I always love to see the cards and presents the kids make for us.  They are sooooo sweet. Happy Birthday, John!!

Luke is FIVE

Look who is FIVE!!

I must have blinked or something, because last time I looked, he was just a baby.

We threw Luke a simple, little party.

(remember . . . simple is good)

The kids did the decorations.

The theme was Star Wars.

I think they did a great job!!

We made little pizzas with cutie Caleb.

yummmmm . . . We made Luke a LEGO cake . . . I just love this picture of Caroline singing to Luke.
The next day, on Luke's real birthday, Jake and Caroline celebrated with him at Monkey Joe's. (a place with a lot of inflatables)

Happy Birthday, dear Luke!!

You make me smile!!

We love you sooo much!!

(and you'll ALWAYS be my baby . . . no matter how old you are!!)

Eight is Great

On August 15th, our Caroline turned EIGHT! When we got back from our trip out West, we threw her a simple, little party.

(simple is good)

How did she grow up so quickly??
Where has the time gone?? It feels like just yesterday that she was falling asleep in my lap as I gently rocked her. I loved how she would run her little hand up and down my arm as I sang to her.

Those are frogs on the cupcakes . . . she wanted a rain forest theme and the theme of her second grade class is frogs.a little "monkey" in the middle :)

I consider it a pure joy and privilege to watch Caroline grow and change and become the young woman that God wants her to become.

She is so creative and smart . . . her preschool teacher always referred to her as industrious. I think that is a great adjective for Caroline. She definitely never gets bored.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Caroline.

We love you so very much!!!!!

Celebrating Grandmas

Our kids love PARTIES!

Who doesn't??

Both grandmas have summer birthdays, so when they came to visit recently . . . the kids threw them a little party.

Grandma Eckstrom Grandma Koz

We love you, Grandma and Grandma!!